Why in News?

• India announced a special economic package worth $680 million for Mauritius, combining infrastructure, healthcare, defence preparedness, and maritime security.
• The announcement came after a bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister (PM) of India and Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi, further strengthening India-Mauritius ties. 

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Developments in the India-Mauritius Ties
• Significance of These Developments in the India-Mauritius Ties
• Broader Strategic Context
• India-Mauritius Ties and Emerging Contours in the Region
• Conclusion

Key Developments in the India-Mauritius Ties:

Significance of These Developments in the India-Mauritius Ties:

• Soft power diplomacy:
  • Academic collaborations: IIT Madras and Indian Institute of Plantation Management signed agreements with University of Mauritius.
  • Mission Karmayogi training modules: To be launched in Mauritius for civil service capacity building.
  • Healthcare: 500-bed Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital, AYUSH Centre of Excellence, Veterinary School and Animal Hospital. First Jan Aushadhi Kendra outside India inaugurated in Mauritius.
  • Financial connectivity: Building on last year’s launch of UPI and RuPay services in Mauritius. Both nations to work towards trade in local currencies.
• Strategic and maritime security dimension:
  • Hydrography agreement: Joint surveys, navigation charts, and hydrographic data collection for Mauritius’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) over the next five years.
  • Maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean: India to assist Mauritius in maritime surveillance, resource exploitation, and capacity building.
  • Chagos archipelago significance: Agreements for development and surveillance of the Chagos Marine Protected Area and expanded EEZ after sovereignty treaty with the UK.
• Geopolitical significance:
  • India backed Mauritius’ sovereignty over Chagos, aligning with its anti-colonial stance.
  • The UK retains Diego Garcia for US-UK military operations, but India’s role ensures strategic leverage in the Indian Ocean.
• Symbolic and cultural aspects:
  • From partnership to family: The Indian PM emphasised that India and Mauritius are “not just partners but a family”.
  • Historical linkages: Indian culture and traditions became part of Mauritian daily life centuries ago.
  • Symbolic spiritual connect: The Mauritius PM witnessed the Ganga Aarti, and he is scheduled to offer prayers at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham before leaving for Ayodhya.

Broader Strategic Context:

• Mauritius views India as a preferred partner for safeguarding maritime interests, reaffirming its position as a -
  • Net security provider in the Indian Ocean.
  • Champion of South-South cooperation.
• Supports the vision of a free, open, secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
• Reinforces India’s influence amidst rising China’s presence in the region.

India-Mauritius Ties and Emerging Contours in the Region:

• India as a first responder: As Mauritius is one of the closest African nations to India, India has consistently supported Mauritius during crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Wakashio oil spill in 2020, etc.
• Economic ties:
  • Mauritius is a major economic partner, ranking as the second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India after Singapore.
  • The two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement in 2021, India’s first trade deal with an African nation.
• Development assistance: India has provided nearly $1.1 billion in development assistance to Mauritius over the last decade, including $729 million in lines of credit and $427 million in grants.
• Diaspora: Around 70% of the island's 1.3 million residents are of Indian descent.
• Emerging geopolitical contours in the western Indian Ocean:
  • China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Gulf nations are increasing their presence in the region.
  • Europe is seeking to reassert influence in the Indian Ocean.
  • Mauritius has balanced its global partnerships while maintaining strategic autonomy.

Conclusion:

• India’s package for Mauritius marks a blend of hard (maritime security cooperation) and soft power (development diplomacy) diplomacy.
• Strengthening Mauritius’ EEZ surveillance will not only secure its resources but also expand India’s strategic reach in the Indian Ocean.
• With the Chagos Agreement strengthening Mauritius’ sovereignty, India stands to gain a trusted ally in a geopolitically sensitive region.
• The partnership reinforces India’s Neighbourhood First and Vision Mahasagar, while advancing its role as a key maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.